IT'S official – Ealing is to host the first ever London-wide Asian mela with the full backing of mayor Ken Livingstone.

Mr Livingstone outlined plans for the huge event at an exclusive media launch at City Hall on Monday night.

The official mela launch came ten months after the Times exclusively revealed plans for the major free festival which will showcase Asian culture in London.

The London Mela will take place in Gunnersbury Park on Sunday August 17 and is being hosted by Ealing Council as part of its Summer Festival.

Mr Livingstone said: "I am delighted and proud that I am here at the birth of what I think will be an international festival the size of Notting Hill [carnival].

"I shall be there because I will be able to say you should have been there at the first all-London mela in Ealing."

Mr Livingstone stressed that the birth of a London-wide event did not mean the end of all other melas in the capital each year.

He said the new event would take place alongside existing smaller ones.

He added: "What we want is one big Asian mela – not to stop all the others.

"We will start in Gunnersbury Park and in a few years we will end up in Hyde Park where more than a million people can attend."

The London Mela has already lined-up mainstream Asian performers such as Apache Indian, Jeff Mirza, Rishi Rich and Najma Akhtar.

The one-day festival will boast contemporary and classical Asian music events as well as fashion, sport, comedy and children's activities.

Ealing Mayor Cllr Singh was delighted his borough had been chosen to host such a huge event.

He said: "It is our privilege to host this event in Ealing and I know the sponsors will give it so much to make it a success.

"I hope it will be a sunny day and people will converge on Ealing to this memorable event which has never happened before.

"It is so many years too late but it will be a world-class event in a world-class city."

Confirmed sponsors of the London Mela include British Airports Authority, Sunrise Radio, Cobra, Rubicon soft drinks, KTC foods and Decibel.

The London Mela is being developed with a South Asian perspective and Ealing Council has assembled an experienced team to create a varied event with a programme of activities and attractions for all ages.

Ajay Chhabra, London Mela director, is looking forward to hearing from people who have got ideas and suggestions.

For further information about sponsorship opportunities contact Harbinder Singh on 01473 735603 or 07887 800664.

Or send ideas on an email to hsrqv@aol.com